Brian surprised me with an i-watch. Amazing! It can do everything, it seems.

It works with your phone, so when you get a call or message on phone, it alerts you.

But I discovered a limitation. I was driving home one night. It was dark and I was on unfamiliar roads.

My phone was set to GPS, but it fell from the stand, onto the floor. I could not find it.

My watch was vibrating, alerting me to make a turn, but did not tell me which way to go. And because it was below zero, I had on several layers of clothing and coat and gloves, so I could not get to the watch to see it. Which way to go? Which road to take? (I was at a loss/in the dark). I could have used a bright star!

Today we celebrate Epiphany. A Christian festival commemorating the revelation of Christ to the Magi, which represents the gift of God’s love in Christ is for everyone, near and far. On this Sunday, we read the story in Matthew’s Gospel of the Magi, or wise ones, who traveled a far distance, following a star, and when the star stopped, they found the Christ child. Filled with great joy, they bowed down, worshiped him, and offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Much has been written about the gifts the magi brought: the gold represents Christ’s majesty and royalty as king; the frankincense represents Christ’s divinity as high priest; and the myrrh represents Christ’s humanity and mortality, foretelling his death.

But nothing has been written about the gifts the magi received. They did receive gifts—3 by my count.

First, they received a star—

In Home by Another Road, Barbara Brown Taylor writes this: “Once upon a time there were three very wise man who were all sitting in their own countries minding their own business when a bright star lodged in the right eye of each one of them. It was so bright that none of them could tell whether it was burning in the sky or in their own imaginations, but they were so wise they knew it did not matter all that much. The point was, something beyond them was calling them, and it was a tug they had been waiting for all their lives.”

The magi left the comfort and safety of home. Why? Because they were looking for something—maybe an answer to a burning question. They were searching for something—maybe for a reason to have faith in someone or something beyond themselves. They were longing for something—maybe something they could not even name. They knew not where they were going, but they trusted God did, so they followed the star.

What about you? Is there something you are looking for—maybe something you can’t even name? Is there a tug at your heart that you have been ignoring? Is there a star you are searching the skies for—to brighten your dark nights of the soul? It’s a New Year—maybe it brings a gift of new possibilities for you.

Second, the magi received the gift of joy.

When they saw that the star had stopped over the place where the child was, they saw the child and, they were overwhelmed with joy. Joy is a precious gift. It is not something that can be bought. It is not something that can be manufactured. It is not something that can be returned. It is a gift that keeps on giving. Joy is a deep feeling of contentment that keeps hope alive, even when the smile fades. It is relentless optimism that refuses to give up faith that all shall be well. It is something few have, but all of us want. Simply by following God’s call and seeking a deeper truth in the Christ child, the magi found joy.

What about you? Are you longing for contentment? Is hope in short supply? It’s a New Year—maybe it brings a promise of joy for you.

Third, they received a gift that at first, might not seem like a gift. Having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod and tell him where the Christ child was, because Herod’s intentions were evil, the magi went home--by another road. The angels offered the magi the gift of Another road.

For those who have met Christ, nothing is ever the same. You don’t take the old road any longer. You unfold a new map, or turn off your GPS, and discover an alternative path. Jesus does not give us a more comfortable life or a Fastlane to success. Jesus does not take away all struggle and sacrifice on our life’s journey. But, Jesus does offer us the gift of another road. A strange unfamiliar road is now our path, but the road is going somewhere. It’s a New Year—maybe it’s time to get off that old road that is leading nowhere—maybe it’s time to unwrap the gift of another road.

What does another road look like? How do we follow it?

Seven years ago, right before Christmas, Riffat and Sajjad, a childless Pakistani Muslim couple in Britain, were asked to take in 3 foster children—2 sisters and a brother. When the couple discovered that the children were Christian, they bought them a Christmas tree, decorations and gifts. “I had never seen that kind of extra happiness and excitement on a child’s face,” said Riffat. The foster children were scheduled to stay with them only two weeks. Years later, two of the children are still part of their family.

What does another road look like? How do we follow it?

A woman named Jennifer’s post on facebook: Paul and I went out today to get some last minute Christmas stuff. Kohl’s and then Giant was the plan. Got everything we needed at Kohl’s and as we were leaving the store we ran into a woman outside who asked if we could help her get a Christmas gift for her son. I had a second when I wondered if she was scamming us, but she said just a t-shirt or something else little - just so she’d have something for him. I said let’s go, I put my arm around her and we went back into the store. We got him a hoodie. She said it was too much but it’s winter - I thought he should have something warmer than a t-shirt. As we waited in line she told me about how she’s been out of work for 3 months and can’t find a job, she’s depressed & convinced her 17 yo son hates her. At one point she mentioned not having any money for food. I told her to come with us to Giant. We got her chicken and mashed potatoes to go with the green beans she got at the food bank, so she and her son would have Christmas dinner. We got her some other food and drinks to get her through the week. She was so incredible appreciative for everything and I wish we had done more - but I think we made her Christmas a little brighter.

What does another road look like? How do we follow it?

In the words of the poem by Robert Frost,

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”